One thing few people know about me is that in the late 1980’s, after leaving Disney’s Live Show Design department, I joined the architectural studio of Benjamin P. Butera, AIA. Ben is a visionary architect, who worked alongside GKTW founder Henri Landwirth in the original planning and design of the village. 26 years later, Ben is still on the team. I was lucky enough to be part of that original design team.

I always recommend Henri’s inspiring autobiography “The Gift of Life” to anyone starting a non-profit or anyone who is wondering how they can make a difference in this world. The story starts with Henri’s life as a young prisoner in the WW2 Holocaust concentration camps, his survival and journey to working in hotels in New York, to finding his twin sister in America, to managing the hottest Florida space coast hotel during the Space Race of the 1960’s, to developing his Holiday Inn in the early Walt Disney World days, to founding Give Kids The World. His friends Walter Chronkite and astronaut John Glenn wrote the foreword and afterword. The book is an inspiration for everyone to do their best.

Sitting in on design meetings with GKTW founder Henri Landwirth, he planted the seeds that:

Accessible Resort Restaurant at GKTW

The Give Kids The World Gingerbread House Restaurant. The original building had a simple gable roof. The parts on the top were built to add character. The roof is supposed to look like cake frosting and the beam at the entry is a vanilla wafer.The Gingerbread House restaurant is a recognized symbol of Give Kids The World. Child-sized tables decorated with 27,000 real peppermint candies, over 2,000 dolls from around the world and the thoughtfulness of Angels (volunteers), all make the Gingerbread House more than just a restaurant.

One day Ben was handed me the blueprints for Ginger Bread House restaurant that Perkins donated to Give Kids The World It was a very ordinary looking commercial style building with some Victorian brackets here and there. It was nothing special at all. From my quick marker and pen sketch, the iconic GKTW gingerbread house was born. Little did I know at that time, that this building would be recognized around the world as a place of loving and caring.

Accessible Resort Villas at GKTW

Large soaker tub with grab bars in the accessible vacation villa at Give kids the WorldRoll-in shower in the Give Kids The World vacation villa

One of the early projects we designed were the original accessible resort Villas. I was still single then and had no clue that children living with a disability or life-threatening disease might have to shower flat or require the assistance of two people to bathe. This is where I first learned that accessibility is much more than what is written as the acceptable minimum standard in the Federal ADA, American With Disabilities Code.

Visiting a new villa was a highlight. The guest suites of this accessible resort take all abilities into consideration in the design. Here are the photos. Since kids usually take baths, this unit is designed with a large bath tub. The shower doesn’t have grab bars.

Accessible toilet and vanity sink in the Give Kids The World Vacation Villa

Often children who are wheelchair users use a shower chair and have their parents assistance in bathing. The handheld shower is the important part. I was surprised that there wasn’t a hand held shower at the tub to assist with bathing or a slide bar at the shower to position the shower head.

The large accessible toilet is set up for an easy transfer. The accessible sink vanity is higher with a lever faucet and knee protection from hot plumbing pipes. The adjacent sink is a little lower to accommodate children. All of these features are part of Universal Design. The accessible resort cheerful kids room has two twin beds and plenty of space to roll around or play. The beds are high to accommodate sliding a hoyer lift under the bed for transfer.

The accessible resort kids room has plenty of space to move around. The bed is raised to fit a hoyer lift to transfer a child.

The front porch of each accessible villa provides a smooth transition from the sidewalk through the front door. We enjoyed tasting Gigi’s Cupcakes as we toured universally designed villa.

Give kids The World accessible villa. Notice the smooth transition in floor surfaces and the huge front porch.

Accessible Resort Chapel at Give Kids The World

We didn’t get a chance to walk inside the chapel during this visit. Henri Landwirth requested that we design a chapel so that the parents would have a place of peace. We designed it as a Victorian tower added to the existing administration buildings. I learned that for many of the children, their last wish is to come to Disney and meet their favorite characters. Some have even passed away in the arms of their wish character or while visiting GKTW.

Every night the GKTW village celebrates a different holiday like Christmas, Easter, and Halloween. They try to pack as many happy memories int as short a period of time possible. Having a place for prayer and meditation offers a place for release.

GKTW chapel. I designed the chapel with Benjamin P. Butera architects in the late 1980s. The chapel anchored the existing administration building.

The hexagon shaped chapel has 4 huge stain glass windows representing Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter. There is a ring of hand painted clouds above leading to heaven.

Walk-In Accessible Pool and Water Park

Every night there is a pool party with music, bubbles, and a D.J.

The evening when were there it was a pirate themed party. You can see the pirate ship in the background.

Accessible water park

There are PVC wheelchairs for kids to use to just roll right into the accessible walk-in pool or the water park.

Accessible walk in or roll in pool.

Accessible Enchanted Carousel

Castle of Miracles and Enchanted Carousel at GKTWA wheelchair can slide inside the turtle for a magically enchanted carousel ride.

One of our favorite venues is the Castle of Miracles and Enchanted Carousel. The Castle includes Twinkle Hope’s La Ti Da Royal Spa, a mysterious forest to explore, Father Time, a Wishing Well that burps, Rusty the friendly guard and a Great Hall full of magic. Waiting for all Wish Children is the Star Fairy, who magically soars into the night placing the Gold Stars on the Castle ceiling. Even children who are wheel chair users can enjoy sitting in the turtle on the merry go round.

The Ice Cream Palace serves Ice Cream Morning Noon and Night!

Kids can have ice cream for every meal at the Ice Cream Palace

Give Kids The World ensures that every venue, activity and villa fully accommodates all of our precious guests. From The Park of Dreams pool to The Garden of Hope pathways, everything at GKTW’s whimsical Village is wheelchair accessible. A former wish mom recalls her family’s wonderful experience here at the Village.

“Our stay at GKTW was amazing and I wouldn’t change a thing. Everyone was so compassionate, thoughtful and treated us like a member of their family. It’s amazing to visit a place that meets the needs of such special children. There are not many places, which we go to as a family, that accommodate wheelchairs. Our family was so happy that my daughter could partake in the same activities as the other family members – even swimming and horseback riding! I would like to thank GKTW for this beautiful experience,” – former wish child, Juvollia’s family.king my daughter’s wish come true but for fulfilling my dream of keeping my entire family together. You have touched our hearts and we will .

Future Expansion, GKTW Town Hall

The New Town Hall at Give Kids The World will add new dining space. The existing Gingerbread House restaurant has gotten too small for all of the families and guests that visit each day.

Disability Smart Solutions is committed to working with organizations and companies who believe in diversity and social inclusion. We are an ADA Accessibility consulting company providing resources to businesses that serve the unique needs of both the 50+ aging population and people living with disabilities.

While parenting a special needs teenager and caring for an elderly parent, she learned the harsh realities of all-ability customer service and architectural barriers to access.

Susan knows that it's one thing to explore a building as an able young person, but it's another to shop, dine, visit the doctor, or vacation as a person living with a disability. Mobility, comprehension, perception, hearing and sight can change in a split second.

Susan believes that exemplary customer service and ease-of-use in Places of Accommodation are key to creating long-term productive employees and life-long happy customers.

His photos star in our "Spot the Service Dog" presentation, where we explain the differences between Services Dogs and Emotional Support Animals.

Serge wants everyone to know that for Places of Public Accommodation:
1. A service dog vest is like a Rock Star t-shirt. It is just informational clothing.
2. The Department of Justice and the ADA do not acknowledge any "Service Dog Certificates."

The ADA only allows two legal questions for businesses.
1. Is the dog or tiny horse a service animal required because of a disability?
2. What work or task has the dog or tiny horse been trained to perform?

A business may ask any animal, including a Service Dog, to leave their facility for bad behavior.

Call Susan to schedule a Service Dog seminar for your organization. 407-310-3663

What is the ADA?

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) gives civil rights protections to individuals with disabilities that are like those provided to individuals on the basis of race, sex, national origin, and religion.

The ADA guarantees equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities in employment, public accommodations, transportation, State and local government services and telecommunications.

Susan P. Berry, NCIDQ, National Council for Interior Design Qualification

National Council of Building Design Certification, Susan P. Berry, CPBD

Disability Smart Solutions is an ADA Consultancy and a service of Susan Berry Design, Inc.
DSS does not practice Law, Architecture, Commercial Interior Design or Engineering.
DSS recommends always using a State Licensed professional for Construction Documents.
DSS recommends always reviewing Disability Discrimination with an Attorney.
Fees and Prices quoted on website are samples and subject to change at any time.
The comments and observations provided within documents provided by Susan Berry Design, Inc. and/or Disability Smart Solutions (SBD/DSS), are for general information & compliance purposes only. SBD/DSS are not licensed attorneys or architects in the State of Florida. We do not claim to be agents, representatives, or licensees of the DOJ (Department of Justice), ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) or any other state or government agency. Any information provided is not intended as professional legal advice, nor does it supersede government authority. Susan Berry Design, Inc., Disability Smart Solutions and/or their assignee's, do not assume any liability for information.

Disclaimer:
ADA Consulting and ADA Inspectors are non-regulated professions.
The International Code Council provides a Certified Accessibility Inspector and Plans Examiner program. Disability Smart Solutions has this certification.
The Department of Justice does not certify or endorse any individual or organization as ADA consultants, nor does the DOJ approve or endorse any products or designs as being in compliance with the ADA.
We DO NOT provide Certificates of ADA Compliance, as we have never been in a facility that maintained 100% ADA compliance.